QUAKERTOWN, Pa. — For fans of the Bard, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's free performance turned out to be Much Ado about the weather.
Close to 40 people on Sunday attended a production of "Much Ado About Nothing," at Univest Performance Center as part of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's, or PSF's, summer series, which runs through Sunday, June 15.
A special encore will be held at noon June 28 during PSF's Community Day at DeSales University.
PSF now is in its 34th season and will run through Aug. 3 at DeSales University's Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.
The season, led by Artistic Director Jason King Jones and Managing Director Casey William Gallagher, includes nine productions.
The cast's next stop is at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in Bethlehem at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 8.
While Sunday's version welcomed sunnier skies and a strong breeze — in contrast, Saturday's run, at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem, saw low attendance because of inclement weather.
Longtime Shakespeare fan
"Much Ado About Nothing," a romantic satire, is set in Messina, a seaport city in Italy.
It centers around two couples, Hero (Sophia Twohig) and Claudio (Ian Higgins), and Beatrice (India Profitt) and Benedick (Ryan Plunkett).
The 10-member cast also includes Maya Jean Marino Cappello (as Conrade/Margaret), Jamir Fisher (as Leonato), Relena Kiser (as Borachio/Friar/Messenger), Shawn Laub (portraying Don John/Seacole/Lord/Messenger), Teddy Novak (as Don Pedro/Verges) and Isabella Stevens (as Dogberry/Ursala).
PSF's version, while modernized by its resort-wear costumes and loud microphones, contains the traditional Shakespearian dialogue, witty banter and jabs at social norms.
For some theater buffs, who brought lawn chairs, blankets and their four-legged friends to watch Sunday's lively show, it was a way to reminisce.
"I studied a lot of Shakespeare's work in college, so I like to watch the live shows when I can," Betty Miller, of Franklin Township, New Jersey, said.
Miller and her husband, who were visiting their family, had seen PSF's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 2023 — the inaugural year of the Play On! series.
"I love the classics, anything Shakespeare" Miller said. "'Cymbeline' is my favorite because of her bravery."
The community tour is funded in part by the Northampton County Hotel Tax Grant Program and administered by the county Community and Economic Development Department.
To learn more about PSF's 2025 season, visit its website.
